Killing Danzo

On the outskirts of the Uchiha Compound.

In the forest.

Ingetsu's Shadow Clone dissolved into thin air.

Earlier, he had planted Yachihoko in Mikoto from afar, then come here to stand by.

At Ingetsu's critical moment, it formed the Ox, Boar, and Goat hand seals and used Izanagi.

It completed its final task.

The Shadow Clone vanished after forming its seals, and the feedback it brought back mobilized the Yin Release Chakra in Ingetsu's original body, completing the activation of "Izanagi."

The principle was similar to Naruto using a Shadow Clone to shape a Rasengan, or having one gather energy for Sage Mode.

Sensing that the rules had changed.

Danzo's brow furrowed deeply. He opened his mouth and exhaled, his face cold and grim, his heart reduced to ashes. He raised his right hand to cover his hollow right eye socket, glaring at Ingetsu with his murky left eye as he gasped for breath, drenched in sweat.

Having lost "Kotoamatsukami" once more, the remaining Yin Release Chakra in Danzo's brain was instantly drained dry. Coupled with his earlier use of Dojutsu, his mind scattered at once.

Ingetsu was not in much better condition. He was equally mentally exhausted, both eyes burning with pain, and all he wanted was to find somewhere to collapse and sleep.

Right now, Ingetsu could not even deliver the finishing blow to Danzo. He could not even lift his blade, remaining on his feet solely through willpower.

This was a contest between Sharingan.

It could be as dazzling as two high-burst Dojutsu clashing and burning everything away, or it could be a quiet struggle like this one, like a game of chess between masters, where every choice concealed endless killing intent.

Unfortunately, Danzo was a terrible chess player.

In Ingetsu's eyes.

He should never have played eye games with the Uchiha.

The hearts of the Root Organization members who could see this scene sank to the bottom once again.

Lord Danzo... seemed to have lost.

Meanwhile, the few Uchiha felt as though they had seen the first light of dawn.

Yet neither side knew whether this battle still had a chance of turning around.

Only Danzo and Ingetsu knew.

It was over.

Their clash had just caused quite a commotion. The first ANBU reinforcements would reach this place in less than a minute.

Ingetsu was temporarily unable to kill Danzo himself, but behind him stood nine Uchiha!

He looked back at the people supporting Tamao, seeming to convey a certain signal with his calm gaze.

"Go support Big Brother..."

The weakened Tamao pushed Izumi away.

Izumi snapped out of her daze, handed him over to a nearby subordinate, and used the Body Flicker Technique to leap toward Ingetsu.

After learning the truth behind the Night of the Clan Annihilation, their views of Ingetsu had long since changed.

Uchiha Nanpu and the other six Uchiha moved as well. Red light bloomed in their eye sockets as Three Tomoe manifested. Filled with boundless fury, they gripped their ninja blades tightly and pounced on Danzo like leopards.

Ingetsu had not controlled them because he wanted to see what kind of mettle these people possessed.

Even if Nanpu and the others had not acted, Yachihoko would have controlled them into doing so.

But in that case, after Danzo was killed, there would be no need to keep those who had failed to act.

To his relief, they were passable.

These were the ones he had carefully selected from the younger Uchiha generation. Though they were not the most talented group, they were the ones with the most upright character.

Ingetsu did not consider himself a good person.

But he still hoped.

That he could live in a world filled entirely with good people.

After the Night of the Clan Annihilation, they should all awaken Three Tomoe and bring their Pupil Power to perfection. As for the Mangekyo, that might be a little difficult.

"Damn it..."

Danzo stared at the charging Uchiha and hurriedly retreated several steps, but with his strength utterly drained, he could no longer draw upon his body's power.

Ingetsu took out a cylindrical liquid container packed with Sharingan from his robes and held it in his palm. Unhurried and patient, he explained:

"Danzo, every one of your guesses was wrong.

Before I came here.

Only my right eye was a Mangekyo. My left eye had been replaced with an ordinary Three Tomoe from the very beginning.

I still have ninety-nine Sharingan here."

A blow straight to the heart!

Danzō's eyes widened as he stared at the container, his aged face undergoing a drastic change.

It was obvious that once tonight passed...

Those Sharingan...

Would all belong to him, Shimura Danzō!!

But now was not the time for Danzō to think about that. He had to consider how to survive the current situation.

In the gloomy forest, the rustle of footsteps drifted over.

Large numbers of ninja were converging on this place.

Danzō's clouded old eyes turned toward the forest beyond, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Monkey's ANBU, along with some of Konoha's ninja, would be here soon. He only needed to hold on for another dozen seconds!

The moment that thought crossed Danzō's mind, Nanpu and an Uchiha at his side arrived before him, crossing their blades as they viciously slashed at Danzō's chest.

Splat—

The crisscrossing wounds tore open Danzō's chest. Blood sprayed forth, splattering across Nanpu's face and those of the frenzied Uchiha, making them look even more ferocious.

"Die!!!"

Two Uchiha took over from Nanpu and the others, flashing behind Danzō to his left and right before slashing upward at an angle.

The blade light flashed past.

Danzō's arms were cleanly severed from his shoulders.

Of the six Uchiha, the remaining two swept past Danzō along the ground, working together to sever his legs.

"Puh—"

Agonizing pain shot through Danzō's limbs, and he spat out a mouthful of old blood. But Nanpu and another Uchiha had already taken over again. Before Danzō could fall, their two ninja blades crossed as they chopped toward his throat.

Danzō looked at the cold glint inches away and gave a weak smile, because his life had finally been saved.

Crack, crack—

A thunderous sound of trees grinding together erupted. It seemed as though some kind of seal had been undone within Danzō's body. A towering tree suddenly grew from his right arm and continued expanding, eventually wrapping around his body and leaving only his aged face exposed.

The sudden turn of events shocked Uchiha Nanpu and his companion. Their ninja blades ultimately only struck the tree's bark and could go no deeper.

The two were forced back by the massive tree shooting skyward.

At that moment, Ingetsu put away the container, patted Izumi's shoulder as she supported him, then withdrew his hand to indicate that he had recovered some strength and could walk on his own. "Let's go. There's no chance to kill him for now."

Izumi woke from her dream once more and gave a slight nod.

Once he finished speaking, the six bloodthirsty Uchiha were brought back under Yachihoko's control and retreated to Ingetsu's side.

Izumi's two teammates, meanwhile, supported Tamao.

Tamao looked weakly at Danzō and cried out:

"Danzō is fucking a giant tree!!"

The Uchiha's mouths twitched.

Thanks to Tamao's outburst, they immediately calmed down.

The forest footsteps were drawing closer and closer. This was the best chance they had to leave Konoha.

Uchiha Nanpu suddenly sensed movement beside him. He turned his head and asked in astonishment:

"Captain Ingetsu, what... are you doing?"

Ingetsu's face was expressionless as he suddenly drew the ninja blade from his back and walked toward Danzō, who was wrapped in the giant tree.

The other Uchiha realized what was happening a moment later and were utterly shocked. So Ingetsu had drawn them back to his side because he had regained a little strength and wanted to kill Danzō with his own hands!

"Captain, run!"

"Captain Ingetsu!"

"Leave us here and escape! If you don't run now, it'll be too late!"

The Uchiha cried anxiously.

As if he could not hear Izumi and the others calling out behind him, Ingetsu raised his blade, aimed its tip at Danzō's heart, and used every last ounce of strength to slowly, inch by inch, thrust it in.

Within the hollow of the giant tree, every inch the blade sank in made Danzō's aged face twist dramatically, blood coughing from his mouth.

Ingetsu said coldly, "Who are you trying to fool in front of me?"

Danzō glared fixedly at Ingetsu, furious beyond measure. As the ninja blade drove in until only the hilt remained, Danzō's life force rapidly faded. In the end, his old eyes slowly closed, and his head drooped weakly like dead wood.

The Uchiha were utterly stunned.

Izumi replayed what Ingetsu had just said in her mind.

Didn't he say... there was no chance?

Izumi's beautiful eyes widened as she stared blankly at the man's mountain-steady back.

"Hehehe..."

Tamao grinned, exposing two rows of blood-stained teeth as he laughed foolishly.